Model 1861 Percussion Rifle manufactured by Eli Whitney Jr., in 1864 as part of a contract with the U.S. Navy for 10,000 percussion rifles. Patterned after the French "Carabine a Tige", the Model 1861 Rifle was adopted on the recommendation of Captain John A. Dahlgren and nicknamed the Plymouth Rifle after the ordnance testing vessel U.S.S. Plymouth. The .69 caliber rifle features the distinctive finger spur behind the trigger guard bow, folding leaf rear sight graduated to 1,000 yards, saber bayonet lug on the right side of the barrel and steel ramrod with cylindrical tip. Sling swivels are mounted on the lower barrel band and stock. The rifle has a national armory bright finish with iron furniture and an oil finished stock. The lock plate has the second pattern markings that consist of "1864" stamped behind the hammer, an eagle and shield motif above "U.S." in front of the hammer and "WHITNEY-VILLE" roll stamped in small letters ahead of the hammer. The serial number "9554" is stamped on the barrel tang. The top of the barrel is dated "1864". The left barrel flat is stamped with "V/P/Eagle head" proof and inspection marks. An Ordnance sub-inspection mark "F.C.W." is stamped on the left side of the barrel just above the stock line. "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. The Ordnance final inspection mark that consists of the script initials "HW" (Henry Walke) in a rectangle with rounded ends is stamped on the left flat.

Near new. The rifle is in as issued condition and appears to be unfired. The barrel, lock and iron furniture retain the original national armory bright finish with traces of old packing grease in protected areas. The markings on the lock plate, barrel, buttplate and barrel band are crisp. There is some active rust on the heel of the buttplate from poor storage but the bright finish on other components is smooth and retains the original polish. The Ordnance final inspection marks on the left stock flat are near perfect; the edges of the barrel channel, lock plate flat and left flat are very sharp. The right side of the butt has several minor scratches and storage marks; the remainder of the stock is excellent with unhandled feathered grain on the wrist. This is an extraordinary example of a Civil War U.S. Navy Plymouth Rifle that shows only minor storage wear. This example would prove difficult, if not impossible to improve upon!